Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini facing another problem as Mario Balotelli comes to the boil

13 Dec 2010 00:56:47

What did you say? Manchester City's Mario Balotelli is booked for dissent
As if Carlos Tevez'sdemands to leavewere not enoughof a headache forRoberto Mancini,another stroppy ManchesterCity striker chose tocause a fuss on Saturday.
Mario Balotelli stormed intothe dressing room when AdamJohnson replaced him after 61minutes. There wasn't even thefaintest glance at his manager.
'What a waste of money,' WestHam fans chanted at City's£23million summer buy fromInter Milan, who had missedfrom three yards early on.
Despite wearing tights andgloves on a relatively mildafternoon at Upton Park, theonly other times Balotellireached boiling point were whenhe argued with referee PhilDowd or vented his frustrationat his team-mates.Mancini told Johnson to warmup as soon as Balotelli wasbooked for dissent.
The20-year-old has already receivedthree yellow cards and a red ineight games for City.
Assistant boss Brian Kiddsaid: 'It's an emotional game,isn't it? There's nothing behindit.
'How many times have we alldone it with our wives or girlfriends?
Then you think, 'Whatthe hell have I done?
'It isn't anything serious in anyshape or form. It's like the factoryworkers on the shop floor.It's an everyday occurrence.'
Kolo Toure added: 'It takestime for a young boy like him.Coming to the Premier Leagueis always difficult. There are lotsof hard tackles and he needs toget used to that.
Fury: Balotelli headed straight down the tunnel after being subbed
'I think it's a bit difficult forhim. But he's a great striker.
'Hecan score goals and he's an intelligentboy. I know he wants to beone of the best in this league.'He will learn because, in thePremier League, you have to bea man and fight every game.'
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Toure also said City's playersuse criticism to drive them on.
'When you feel the pressureyou can offer your best,' he said.'Everybody's waiting for our mistakeand that gives us strength.
'It's normal that everybody willcriticise our team because wehave so many big players andthe chairman has put in a lot ofmoney. Everybody's expectingCity to be one of the best teamsin this league. The only thing weneed to do is get the points.'
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Explore more:People: Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure, Roberto Mancini Places: Milan